No vacation leave for cops as JCF fine-tunes election preparations

The Jamaica Defence Force has signalled that everything is in place to help the police provide a secure environment for Jamaicans to exercise their franchise.

Police Commissioner Dr Carl Williams has given instructions for scores of police personnel to be recalled from vacation leave following Prime Minister Portia Simpson Miller’s announcement that Jamaicans will go to the polls later this month.

At the same time, Deputy Commissioner of Police Clifford Blake says Williams has instructed that members of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF) should only be granted vacation in exceptional circumstances.

Blake, who has responsibility for the JCF’s operations portfolio, says the Force will need as much of its members as possible to guarantee a safe election.

Meanwhile, Blake says the JCF was not caught off guard by Simpson Miller’s announcement Sunday night, revealing that the Police High Command began preparing for a general election last August.

The senior officer says the announcement of the date now gives the police a chance to fine-tune those preparations.

The Jamaica Defence Force has also signalled that everything is in place to help the police provide a secure environment for Jamaicans to exercise their franchise.

The security forces will cast their ballots before the rest of the population, but Blake says that date will be determined by the Electoral Office of Jamaica.